Though Rock Island displayed an improved passing game, the Rocks were no match for the #9 (Class 7A) Quincy Blue Devils on Friday night, losing 41-7 in what was both their home opener and the opening game in Western Big 6 play. Quincy QB Bradyn Little continued his stellar play, throwing for 298 yards and three TDs, including two long scores to Adon Byquist. Jeraius Rice ran for two scores for the Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0). Rice’s second TD with 1:55 left in the 3rd quarter made the score 41-0, prompting a continuous clock for the remainder of the game.
The Rocks’ offense had its best passing attack of the season, junior QB Jav’eion Clark-Pugh throwing for 133 yards, and the offensive line frequently picking up Quincy blitzes, allowing “Juice” just enough time to release his passes. Clark-Pugh was named the Hungry Hobo Rock Island Rocks Player of the Game. Amare Overton led the receivers with 7 catches for 66 yards.
Running hard between the tackles, RB Garr Tarr had 61 yards on 14 carries. RB Issais Duarte dashed 41 yards for the Rocks’ lone score with 5:09 left in the game. Defensively, the Rocks stopped to Quincy drives at the 1-yard line, once poking the ball out of Rice’s hands as he appeared ready to score, the second time on an interception by Niyo Fiston.
The Rocks (0-3, 0-1 in conference) will play a non-conference game against Sterling-Newman (2-1), who lost to Princeton on Friday, 20-0, after season-opening wins vs Rockridge (12-7) and Sherrard (16-10). This game took the place of Alleman on the schedule, after the Pioneers elected to play only junior varsity football in 2023.
The live play-by-play broadcast of Rocks Football, presented by Wheelan-Pressly, will get underway with the Crawford Company Pre-Game Show scheduled for 7:15 p.m., and kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.